Aurora Leads the Way for KandJu

Based in St. Cesaire, southwest of Montreal, Ludik Candy Designer is an importer and distributor of a wide selection of confectionery products. Introduced in 2006, Co-Founders Marie-Ève ​​Gladu and François St-Laurent have built the company’s wholesale format to a position where its products are carried by over 2500 independent retail stores across the country as well as its private label lines in several national retailers. In 2013, the company introduced a retail format operating under the KandJu banner. The first bricks-and-mortar unit opened in the company’s premises in St. Cesaire and expansion to new locations quickly followed. Currently there are ten KandJu locations in Quebec. The stores feature a wide selection of confectionery products from more than 40 manufactures around the world as well as its own candy skewers and cones sold under the Marie & Franky brand name.

KandJu offers a large selection of sweets in bulk and packaged, over 250 kinds of candies, a broad assortment of chocolates, gourmand delights and gift items. KandJu also operates an on-line component. Manon Parisien of Aurora Realty Consultants is leading the site selection in Canada. KandJu is still pursuing its expansion in the Quebec market and will be looking at opportunities for the fourth quarter of 2020 and 2021 openings. KandJu is seeking 900 to 1000 square foot units in regional malls, lifestyle centres and high traffic urban street front sites in Drummondville, Sherbrooke, Gatineau, St-Jérome, etc.